Steam and vacuum pumping apparatus.



U0. 773,907. I PATUNTUU Nov. 1. 1904.

Y A. G. WATURHUUSU. STEAM ANU VACUUM PUMPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8. 1904.

H0 MODEL.

62x27 14000 e o No. 773,907. Patented November 1, 1904i UNITED STATES Y PATENT OFFICE.,

ADDISON G. WATERHOUSE, OF ROOKLAND OOUNTY,NEVV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO VVATERHOUSE STEAM AND VACUUM PUMP COMPANY, A CORPORA- TION OF MAINE. i v

-STEAM AND VACUUM PUNIPING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 773,907, dated November 1, 1904. I

Application filed January 8, 1904. Serial No. 188,174. (No model.)

T @ZZ wwm it may 00710677@ inherent disadvantages, one being that the Be it known that I, ADDISON G. WATER- degree of vacuum constantly grows less as HOUSE, a citizen of the United States, residing liquid is drawn in and air iills the remaining o in Rockland county, New York, have invented space, so that the degree of vacuum is not 5 certain new and useful Improvements in Steam constant, but gradually dies out, whereby the and Vacuum Pumping Apparatus, of which motion ofthe liquid lifted or drawn in slows the following is a specification. up or stops, generally before the receptacle is My invention relates to that class of pumpsY properly charged, while-the air continues to wherein liquid is drawn into a receptacle by enter and fill the space which should be oc- 1o means of a partial vacuum produced by the cupied by liquid. Another cause is that any condensation of steam therein and from which adjustment of the air-intake remains constant, liquid is expelled by being directly displaced while the liquid-intake is subject to variations by steam under pressure. due to changes of level or pressure at the 6o Heretofore steam and vacuum pumps have point of liquid-supply, together with many 15 been operated by employing avacuum formed other causes that may impede or restrict its within the receptacle or receptacles by the iiovv. condensation of steam therein for drawing in The object of my invention is to overcome liquid and a limited volume of air has been the above-noted objections and to obtain such admitted to the receptacle to lie upon the surconditions and effects in such apparatus as are zo face of the liquid in order to prevent undue necessary in securing the highest efficiency condensation of the steam used for expelling and practical requirements and for securing the liquid from the receptacle; but in order in the receptacle of such apparatus a proper to secure the best results a certain proportion complement of air and a full or desired charge 7o of air should be employed, because if too litof liquid at each operation irrespective of the 2 5 tle air is drawn in then when the steam is adtime or conditions under which liquid is drawn mitted to the surface of the liquid rapid coninto the receptacle. densation follows to an extent which causes a In carrying out my invention I provide a loss of steam which exceeds the value of the receptacle having means for admitting' liquid 75 work accomplished, and if too much air is and steam and causing condensation of steam' 3o admitted then the extent ofthe vacuum formed therein, with means for suddenly admitting is so limited that the receptacle or receptaair to the receptacle after it receives its full cles become only partly filled with liquid, charge of liquid or when the liquid in the rewhereupon the receptacle must be completely ceptacle reaches a predetermined level, so filled with steam to expel the liquid, and as that such air Will fill the remaining space in 35 the same volume of steam is required to disthe receptacle, whereby I am enabled to accucharge a receptacle partially charged as one rately control the admission to the receptacle fully charged with liquid the reason of the of an approximately exact volume of air that loss of steam efciency in the former case is may be required for forming an insulating obvious. To overcome such loss of steam and stratum upon the surface of the liquid to pro- 40 to cause the apparatus to work uniformly, an tect the steam from direct contact with the approximately exact proportion or compleliquid while the steam is forcing liquid from ment of air should be admitted into the recepthe receptacle. tacle for each liquid charge. Where such air My invention also has reference to imhas been admitted to the receptacle through a proved means for controlling the operation 4 5 regulating-valve or adjustable aperture durof the valve for admitting steam to the receping the time liquid is being drawn into the tacle, and it'further contemplates the novel receptacle the operation is accompanied by details of improvement that will be more fully hereinafter set Jforth, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, wherein-- Figure l is a sectional elevation of a steam and vacuum pumping apparatus embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of such an apparatus provided with a modified form or device for controlling the inflow ot' air to the receptacle.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both views.

In the drawings, the numeral l indicates a receptacle for liquid, shown provided with a liquid-inlet pipe 2, which may lead from a suitable source of supply, and a check-valve 2, connected by a pipe 1a with the receptacle, and at 3 is indicated a discharge-pipe having' a check-valve Sn.

At S is indicated a steam-supply pipe communicating with receptacle l and shown leading to the top of thel receptacle.

At 4 is indicated a pipe connected with pipe 8 and leading into the receptacle 1 for supplying condensing' liquid or water thereto and provided with acheck-valve 4 and a regulating-cock Alb, permitting the passage or' liquid from pipe3 into the receptacle and pre venting return flow.

The foregoing parts illustrate an apparatus with which my improvement may be utilized and which may be o1 any well-known construction.

1n Fig. l my improved means for controlling the admission of air to the receptacle are arranged as follows: At A is indicated an airinlet valve adapted to control the llow of air into the receptacle, as through a pipe A, and the valve A is shown connected by a stem A;s with a float A4. At A is an air-check valve adapted to permit the flow of air through passage A2 into the receptacle past valve A and prevent the baekilow, while the valve A when closed prevents inllow ot' air, but permits such inflow when opened. Said valve is normally held upon its seat in the construction shown by the weight of the float A1, and no pressure in receptacle lwill raise valve A, owing' to the check-valve A being back of it. Valve A is intended to open to admit air to receptacle l only when the liquid in the receptacle rises approximately to a predetermined level and lifts the float, and thereby the volume of air admitted to the receptacle is accurately controlled. Y

At 5 is an outlet or aperture leading' from receptacle l, nearv its lower part, for the outflow of air, steam, or water, which outlet communicates with a pipe l and is located approximately at or slightly above the predetermined low level for liquid in the receptacle (indicated at Z) to permit the outllow or' air when the liquid has reached such level. While any well-known means may be used for preventing the outflow of air from the receptacle until approximately the predetermined low level of liquid therein has been reached, .l have shown a thermostatic device for controlling the outlet 5, which comprises a heat-expanding rod 5, located within receptacle 1, and shown within a perforated tube 5, and arranged so that when the rod 5 is expanded by heat it will close the outlet 5, and when said rod is cold it will contract and open such outlet to thereby allow air, steam, or liquid to flow from the receptacle through pipe 5d. The pipe 5d is shown provided with a check-valve 5t and a small drip or spout 5g to keep back the pressure in pipe 5d to cause such pressure to be transmitted through the branch pipe 5e into a cylinder or chamber S7 under a movable piston or diaphragm S. rl`he latter is shown connected by a rod S3 with the movable member S2 or' valve S and contained within a pipe SG, the rod S3 passing through a stuling-box Si, whereby when the piston or diaphragm S5 is forced up the steam-valve S is opened to admit steam to receptacle l, and when said piston or diaphragm moves down by gravitation or other cause the steam-valve will be closed.

The operation or' the apparatus above described is as follows: XV hen the receptacle l is filled with steam, the liquid in it is forced out down to the low level, (indicated at Z,) and then the steam heats and expands the thermostat-rod 5lL and causes the same to close outlet 5, so that what pressure there is in pipe 5d and under the piston is relieved by the drip 5, which allows the piston to move down by gravitation to close the steam-valve S'. Condensation or' steam in the receptacle then takes place and is completed by liquid returning from discharge-pipe 3 through pipe 3 into the receptacle, wherein a partial vacuum is produced, which draws liquid into the receptacle through pipe 2. Such liquid upon entering the receptacle cools off the thermostatrod 5, which opens the outlet 5, so that the vacuum in the receptacle is communicated to the space S7 under the piston or diaphragm, (check 5f preventing return of air through 5,) which keeps the piston down and causes the steam-valve to remain closed so long as the vacuum continues in the receptacle. l/Vhen the liquid thus drawn into the receptacle reaches the predetermined high level, as that represented by the dotted line Y, the liquid raises the float Al, opens the valve A, and admits air suddenly through the check-valve A' into the receptacle, which air lills the space above the liquid and breaks the vacuum. Then owing to the weight of the liquid in the receptacle some of it flows out through the aperture 5, pipe 5, and drip 5g, but creates a pressure in the chamber S7, which raises the piston S and opens the steam-valve S', admitting steam to the receptacle, which expels IOO IIO

the contained liquid through the dischargepipe 3. During such time the steam-valve S' is held open by the pressure exerted under the piston S5; but when the surface of the liquid in the receptacle falls below the level of the thermostat 5 the air upon the surface of the liquid suddenly passes out through the aperture 5, allowing the steam to descend upon the liquid remaining in the receptacle, and then the heat of the steam expands the thermostat-rod n and closes the aperture 5, whereupon the drip at 5g immediately removes the pressure from under the piston S5 and allows the steam-valve S to close, and the operations before described are repeated. It will be thus understood that the air is admitted to the receptacle only upon the liquid therein reaching an approximately high level, and that'therefore a substantially predetermined volume of air is admitted, which is practically equal at all times, and the full benefit of the vacuum in the receptacle is utilized for raising liquid therein to a substantially constant level; also, that such air is discharged at about the time liquid reaches the predetermined low level, so that an undue accumulation of air in the receptacle is prevented.

It will be understood that in the event that air should remain in the receptacle so that a full charge 'of liquid should not be drawn in, then no more air will enter the receptacle until such surface air is expelled, whereby a substantially full charge of liquid is secured at each action of the apparatus, and in case the water does not rise high enough to admit air into the receptacle so as to break the vacuum, then the condensing water will continue to flow until the vacuum is discharged, so that steam can be again let on until the air is discharged from the receptacle and a proper volume of fresh air is admitted.

In Fig. 2 is indicated part of a steam and vacuum pump, which may be substantially like that shown in Fig. 1, with respect to the inlet and discharge of liquid and the controlling of the steam-valve to accord with the extreme rise and fall of liquid in the receptacle caused by the condensation and pressure of the steam therein; but in this iigure a modiiied form of means for controlling the inlet o'f air is illustrated. In this figure a vent box -or receptacle is indicated at A, into which extends anair-pipe A7, leading to the receptacle 1 and provided with an air-check valve A to permit the passage of air to the receptacle, and said air-check is shown provided with a set-screw A8, capable of adjustment to regulate the volume of air which can pass the receptacle, while none is allowed to return through said check. At AJ is indicated a pipe connecting receptacle 1 near its lower part with the vent-box A and shown provided with a check-valve A10, permitting outflow from receptacle 1, but preventing return How of liquid, and a regulating-cock A, whereby the vent-box A6 may be charged withliquid', as steam forces liquid from receptacle 1 while the liquid therein is under steam-pressure. While steam is shut off from the receptacle 1 or during the time that liquid is being drawn through pipe l into the receptacle, the liquid in box A6 is also being drawn into receptacle l through A7 until the liquid in said box falls sufciently low to uncover the inlet into pipe A7, and thereupon air will be drawn into receptacle l to the same etfect that air enters through valve A, as in Fig. 1. The capacity of box A and the adjustment of its air-valve A are such that no air will be drawn into the receptacle until after such time as will allow the receptacle to be charged with its proper or predetermined volume of liquid or up to about the level represented by the dotted line Y. Whenv steam next enters the receptacle 1, liquid will be again forced into box A6 and close the inlet-opening of pipe A7, which will not open again until the liquid has been drawn from such box, as before described. It is obvious that the box A6 can be supplied with liquid from a source other than the receptacle 1, the liquid being withdrawn from said box, as described.

In this application I have illustrated asimplex or single-receptacle steam and vacuum pump, but my improvements may be used in connection with a steam and vacuum pumping apparatus of the duplex form or those having two or more liquid-receptacles. My invention is not limited to the particular means shown for securing the operations set forth, especially those for controlling the admission of air to the receptacle, as my invention is applicable to any apparatus wherein a vacuum caused by the condensation of steam is employed for drawing liquid into a receptacle to the exclusion of air until a substantially predetermined volume of liquid is admitted, after which air is admitted to' break the vacuum. l

Having now described my invention, what I claim is- 1. An apparatus of the character described comprising a receptacle provided with liquid induction and eduction means, means to admit steam to the receptacle and control the flow of same to accord with the rise and fall of the liquid in the receptacle, means to admit air into the receptacle made dependent -upon the liquid having iirst reached a predetermined high level in said receptacle, and means for discharging such air from the receptacle at a point near the surface of the liquid above the level at which liquid is discharged from the receptacle, said means being dependent for action upon the surface of the liquid reaching the lower extreme of its motion in the receptacle, substantially as described.

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising a receptacle provided with liquid IOC IIS

induction and eduction means, means for admitting steam to the receptacle, means for condensing steam within the receptacle, means for admitting air to the receptacle after liquid has been admitted thereto, means for discharging such air from the receptacle at a point above the level at which the liquid is discharged, said means being dependent for action upon the surface of the liquid in the receptacle reaching approximately the lower level of its movement, and means for controlling the flow of steam to the receptacle made dependent for action upon the air being admitted to and discharged from the receptacle, substantially as described.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising a receptacle provided with liquid induction and eduction means, means for admitting steam to the receptacle, means for condensing the steam in the receptacle; means for admitting` air into the receptacle and discharging` it therefrom to follow a predetermined rise and fall of the level of the liquid in the receptacle, and means for controlling the AHow of steam to the receptacle made dependent upon the air being discharged from the receptacle to the open air, substantially as described.

4. An apparatus of the character described comprising a receptacle provided with liquid induction and eduction means, means for admitting steam to the receptacle, means for condensing' the steam in the receptacle, means for admitting air into and discharging it from the receptacle dependent upon the surface of the liquid in the receptacle rising above and falling below predetermined levels above the level at which the liquid is discharged from the receptacle, means for employing the air when discharged for shutting steam ofi' from the receptacle, and means controlled by the admission of Huid to the receptacle for letting steam into the same,substantially as described.

5. An apparatus of the character described comprising a receptacle provided with liquid induction and eduction means, means for admitting steam to the receptacle, means for condensing' the steam in the receptacle, means for admitting air into the receptacle made dependent upon the liquid rising in the receptacle to a predetermined level, means for discharging the air from the receptacle to the open air through a passage other than that used for the main discharge of the liquid, means dependent upon the liquid reaching a predetermined low level in the receptacle for shutting steam off from the receptacle, and means for employing the pressure due to the weight of the water in the receptacle for letting steam into the same, substantially as described.

6. An apparatus of the character described comprising a receptacle provided with liquid induction and eduction means, means for admitting steam to the receptacle, means for condensing the same, means controlled by the surface of the liquid in the receptacle reaching a predetermined low level for discharging the air from its surface, means for admitting air to the receptacle through a passage, a check-valve normally closing said passage and adapted to resist the passage of air from the receptacle, and a valve adapted for normally resisting the passage of air to the receptacle, and means for opening the latter valve made dependent upon the liquid in the receptacle rising to a predetermined level, substantially as described.

7. .An apparatus of the character described comprising a receptacle provided with liquid induction and eduction means, means to condense steam therein, a steam-pipe provided with a valve communicating with said receptacle, a movable member connected with said valve, a pipe connecting the movable member chamber with the lower portion of the receptacle and provided with a check-valve and drip whereby the weight or pressure of liquid in the receptacle is utilized to open the steamvalve, and means to control the outflow of liquid and air from said receptacle through said pipe by causes due to the rise and fall of liquid in said receptacle, substantially as described.

8. An apparatus of the character described comprising a receptacle provided with liquid induction and eduction means, means to condense steam therein, said receptacle having an air-inlet provided with means for opening the same by causes due to the rise of liquid in the receptacle, a steam-pipe connected with said receptacle and provided with a valve, a chamber provided with a movable member connected with said valve, a pipe connecting said chamber with the lower portion of said receptacle and provided with a check and drip, and a thermostat located near the lower portion of the receptacle and arranged to control the iiow of iiuid from the receptacle into said pipe, substantially as described.

9. An apparatus of the character described comprising a receptacle provided with liquid induction and eduction means, means to condense lsteam therein, a steam-pipe having a valve to control the admission of steam to the receptacle, a chamber provided with a movable member connected with said valve, a pipe connecting said chamber with the lower portion of the receptacle, a heat-expanding rod located in the receptacle adapted to control the outlet to said pipe by causes due to the rise and fall of liquid in said receptacle, and a check-valve and drip connected with said pipe, substantially as described.

l0. An apparatus of the character described comprising a receptacle provided with liquid induction and eduction means, an air-inlet valve normally closed and provided with means for opening the same upon an approximately predetermined volume of liquid entering the IOO IIO

receptacle, esteem-pipe provided with a Valve to the rise and fall of liquid in said recepteto control the iiow of steam to the receptacle, Cle, said pipe being provided with a cheeka chamber provided with a movable member Valve and drip, substantially as described.

connected with said Valve, a pipe connecting ADDISON Gr. VATERHOUSE. said chamber with said receptacle, and a ther- Witnesses:

mostat-rod adapted to control the flow of fluid JNO. RoBT. TAYLOR,

from the receptacle to said pipe by causes due T. F. BoURNE. 

